U.S. patent application number 11/949144 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-04 for sliding panel arrangement for a vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.. Invention is credited to Andrew James Krolnik, John Marsolek.
Application Number | 20090140548 11/949144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40303647 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090140548 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Krolnik; Andrew James ; et
al. |
June 4, 2009 |
SLIDING PANEL ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE
Abstract
A sliding panel arrangement for a vehicle wherein a panel is
adapted to be coupled to a vehicle body, at least two linear
bearings or at least one longitudinal member being disposed on the
panel, the other of the at least two linear bearings or at least
one longitudinal member being adapted to be coupled to the vehicle
body. The longitudinal member is sized and disposed to slide within
the linear bearings, the panel sliding between closed and open
positions over a vehicle compartment.
Inventors: |
Krolnik; Andrew James;
(Brooklyn Park, MN) ; Marsolek; John; (Watertown,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG, VOIT & MAYER, LTD
TWO PRUDENTIAL PLAZA SUITE 4900, 180 N. STETSON AVE
CHICAGO
IL
60601
US
|
Assignee: |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS
INC.
Minneapolis
MN
|
Family ID: |
40303647 |
Appl. No.: |
11/949144 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/191 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 25/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/191 |
International
Class: |
B62D 25/02 20060101
B62D025/02 |
Claims
1. A vehicle comprising a body including an opening and a
complementary panel, at least two linear bearings disposed along at
least one of the panel or the body substantially adjacent the
opening, at least one longitudinal member disposed along the other
of the at least one panel or the body substantially adjacent the
opening, and the longitudinal member being sized and disposed to
slide within the linear bearings, the panel being in sliding
communication between a closed position at least partially covering
the opening, and an open position at least partially uncovering the
opening as the longitudinal member slides within the linear
bearings.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the body further includes an
engine compartment, and wherein said opening opens into the engine
compartment.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 further including at least one bracket,
attached to at least one of the body or the panel, at least one of
the longitudinal member or the at least two linear bearings being
coupled to the at least one bracket.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal member is
unitarily formed with the panel or body along which it is
disposed.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least two linear bearings
include all internal channel, at least a portion of the
longitudinal member is slidably disposed within the channels of the
linear bearings.
6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the channels have a shape
enclosing at least 270.degree. of the circumference of at least a
portion of the longitudinal member.
7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the channels have a shape
enclosing 360.degree. of the circumference of at least a portion of
the longitudinal member.
8. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the longitudinal member comprises
an elongated bar and at least one support disposing the elongated
bar along the panel or body, the elongated bar being slidably
disposed within the channels of the linear bearings.
9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the longitudinal member comprises
a plurality of said supports.
10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the elongated bar includes one
of the following cross-sectional geometries: round, oval,
rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or
multisided.
11. The vehicle of claim 1 including at least two linear bearings
and at least one longitudinal member being disposed along a first
side of the opening, and at least two linear bearings and at least
one longitudinal member being disposed along a second, opposite
side of the opening.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 including at least four linear bearings
and at least two longitudinal members being disposed along said
first side of the opening.
13. The vehicle of claim 12 including at least four linear bearings
and at least two longitudinal members being disposed along said
second side of the opening.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is a compactor, the
longitudinal member comprises an elongated bar and at least one
support disposing the elongated bar along the panel or body, the
elongated bar having a substantially round cross-section, and being
disposed within the channels of the linear bearings.
15. A sliding panel arrangement adapted for sliding communication
with a vehicle body having an opening, the vehicle panel being
adapted for sliding communication between a closed position at
least partially covering the opening, and an open position at least
partially uncovering the opening, the vehicle panel arrangement
comprising a panel having an edge, at least two linear bearings, at
least one longitudinal member sized to slide within the linear
bearings, one of either the longitudinal member or the bearings
being disposed along the edge of the at least one panel, and the
other of the longitudinal member or the bearings being adapted to
be coupled to the vehicle body substantially adjacent the
opening.
16. The vehicle panel of claim 15, wherein the at least two linear
bearings are disposed along the edge of the panel, and the
longitudinal member is adapted to be coupled to the corresponding
side of the vehicle body substantially adjacent to the opening.
17. The vehicle panel of claim 15, wherein the longitudinal member
is disposed along the edge of the panel, and the at least two
linear bearings are adapted to be coupled to the corresponding side
of the vehicle body substantially adjacent to the opening.
18. A method of selectively covering an opening in a body of a
vehicle comprising providing the vehicle, said vehicle including at
least one motivator and the vehicle body including the opening,
providing a panel complementary to said opening, disposing at least
two linear bearings along at least one of a side of the panel or
the body substantially adjacent opposite sides of the opening,
disposing at least one longitudinal member along the other of the
side of the panel or the body substantially adjacent opposite sides
of the opening, slidably disposing the longitudinal member within
the linear bearings to place the panel in sliding communication
between a closed position at least partially covering the opening,
and an open position at least partially uncovering the opening as
the longitudinal member slides within the linear bearings.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of disposing at least
two linear bearings includes disposing at least two sets of at
least two linear bearings along at least one of two opposite sides
of the panel or the body substantially adjacent opposite sides of
the opening, the step of disposing the at least one longitudinal
member includes disposing at least two longitudinal members
disposed along the other of the two opposite sides of the panel or
the body substantially adjacent opposite sides of the opening, and
the step of slidably disposing includes slidably disposing a first
of the longitudinal members in a first of the two sets of linear
bearings, and slidably disposing a second of the longitudinal
members in a second of the two sets of linear bearings.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of disposing at least
two linear bearings includes disposing a first of the two sets of
said bearings along said body substantially adjacent the side of
the opening, the step of disposing the at least one longitudinal
member includes disposing a first of the longitudinal members along
the side of the panel.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This patent disclosure relates generally to movable panels
for motor vehicles and, more particularly to a sliding hood
arrangement for such vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0002] New environmental standards and increasing fuel costs have
required that vehicles function more efficiently. Enhancements to
the individual systems of the vehicle, as well as the integration
of these systems may offer increases in the overall efficiency of
vehicle operation. A vehicle cooling package, for example, operates
less efficiently when warmer air flow is provided to the system as
opposed to cooler air being provided. Warm or hot air flow often
results when hot air from an engine is allowed to escape from the
engine compartment of the vehicle and enter the engine cooling
package. Inasmuch as the air from the engine compartment is
generally warmer than ambient air, unless the warm air from the
engine is channeled away or separated from the air intake for the
cooling package, the cooling package will operate less efficiently
than would be the case with a cooler flow of air.
[0003] The constriction and relative locations of the components of
the vehicle may enhance opportunities for warm engine air to flow
into the engine cooling package. For example, many vehicles require
movable panels, such as hoods covering engine compartments, so that
inside internal components of the vehicles may be accessed quickly
and easily. Vehicle panels that are easy to move or remove,
however, often provide paths for air to enter or exit the area
where the vehicle panel attaches to the vehicle body. Warm air, for
example, may exit all engine compartment near where a hood connects
to a vehicle body. Inasmuch as the air intake to the engine cooling
package is typically disposed to draw outside air into the cooling
package, if warm air escaping from the engine compartment is drawn
into the vehicle's cooling package, the cooling package will
function less efficiently than if cooler air is provided. Thus, it
is desirable to minimize or eliminate air paths from the warm
engine compartment in the vicinity of the air intake to the vehicle
cooling package.
[0004] Vehicle panels are often rigidly connected to the vehicle by
nuts and bolts, hinges, and linkage systems. These panel systems
are often difficult to open, and often occupy valuable space within
the vehicle compartment.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,623 to Michael C. Brandl et al. (the
'623 patent) discloses a sliding hood for a tractor. The '623
patent discloses modifications to a machine hood such that the hood
is easier to remove, allowing the tractor hood to open and close by
sliding. The arrangement of the '623 patent disclosure provides
only limited improvements to the functionality of a vehicle hood,
however, and further enhancements are desirable.
[0006] Any modifications to either the internal systems or the
exterior of a vehicle, however, ideally should not interfere with
general operation of the machine. For example, operators of
vehicles must have adequate sightline to allow them to safely and
efficiently operate the same. More particularly, operators must be
able to view as much of the terrain around them as possible, not
only to permit them to efficiently operate the vehicle, but also to
ensure safe operation. In this regard, blind spots and obstructions
to the operator's vision should be reduced as much as possible.
[0007] It is therefore desirable to provide vehicles that may be
operated safely and efficiently. The present disclosure is directed
to overcoming one or more of the shortcomings of the art set forth
above.
SUMMARY
[0008] The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a vehicle
comprising a vehicle body with an opening and a complementary
panel. The vehicle includes at least two linear bearings disposed
along either the panel or the body substantially adjacent to the
opening, and a longitudinal member which is sized and disposed to
slide within the linear bearings and is connected to the other of
the panel or body. The panel slides relative to the opening between
a closed position in which the panel substantially covers the
opening, and an open position in which the opening is at least
partially uncovered.
[0009] The disclosure describes in another aspect, a vehicle panel
arrangement adapted for sliding communication with a vehicle body
having an opening. The vehicle panel is adapted for sliding
communication between a closed position at least partially covering
the opening, and an open position at least partially uncovering the
opening. The panel arrangement includes a panel, at least two
linear bearings, and at least one longitudinal member sized and
disposed to slide within the linear bearings. The panel has an
edge, and one of either the longitudinal member or the bearings is
disposed along the edge of the vehicle panel, and the other of the
longitudinal member or the bearings is adapted to be coupled to the
vehicle body substantially adjacent the opening.
[0010] The disclosure describes in another aspect, a method of
selectively covering an opening in a body of a vehicle. The method
includes providing the vehicle, having at least one motivator, and
the body including the opening, and providing a panel complementary
to the opening. The method further includes disposing at least two
linear bearings along at least one of a side of the panel or the
body substantially adjacent opposite sides of the opening,
disposing at least one longitudinal member along the other of the
side of the panel or the body substantially adjacent opposite sides
of the opening, and slidably disposing the longitudinal member
within the linear bearings dispose the panel in sliding
communication between a closed position at least partially covering
the opening, and an open position at least partially uncovering the
opening as the longitudinal member slides within the linear
bearings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an exemplary vehicle
embodying the disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an axial fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a
sliding panel arrangement for a vehicle taken along line 2-2 in
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the longitudinal member and
two linear bearings taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an axial fragmentary, cross-sectional view of an
alternate embodiment of a sliding panel arrangement, similar to the
view of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] This disclosure relates to an arrangement for coupling a
panel to a vehicle body. The coupling mechanism allows a vehicle
panel to be movable while minimizing the monopolization of space
within the compartment. Further, when utilized in connection with
an engine compartment, the moveable panel arrangement may inhibit
the escape of warm air from the engine compartment.
[0016] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a vehicle 100 with
a vehicle body 101 supported on a frame 102, the frame being
supported on a plurality of motivators, in this case, a pair of
rollers 103, 104. The vehicle body 101 includes a cab 105 for
supporting an operator. The vehicle body 101 additionally forms a
compartment, here, an engine compartment 106, and an opening 107
that allows access to the engine compartment 106.
[0017] To cover the opening, the vehicle body 101 includes a panel
108 in sliding communication with the remainder of the vehicle body
101. The panel 108 is selectively movable and may be disposed in a
closed position 109, wherein the panel substantially covers the
opening 107 and the engine compartment 106 (as shown, for example,
in solid lines in FIG. 1), and an open position 110, wherein the
panel substantially does not cover the opening 107 or the engine
compartment 106 (as shown, for example, in phantom in FIG. 1).
While the illustrated compartment is an engine compartment 106, the
compartment may be any type and in any location within the vehicle
body 101.
[0018] Moreover, although a compactor is illustrated in FIG. 1, the
embodiments described herein are provided by way of example and for
illustration purposes only. Therefore, the examples set forth
herein should not be construed as limiting based on the specific
vehicle described in association therewith, but should be construed
as applicable to any other type of machine or vehicle that includes
a panel 108 covering an opening 107. Thus, the term "vehicle" may
refer to any machine or vehicle that includes such structure,
including any machine that performs some type of operation
associated with an industry known in the art. For example, a
vehicle may be an earth-moving machine, such as a wheel loader,
excavator, dump truck, backhoe, motorgrader, material handler, soil
compactor, asphalt compactor, paving machine or the like. Further,
a vehicle may include motivators such as wheels, rollers, track
systems or the like. The vehicle may also include an attached
implement, which may be utilized and employed for a variety of
tasks, including, for example, loading, compacting, lifting,
brushing, breaking, and include for example, buckets, compactors,
forked lifting devices, brushes, grapples, cutters, shears, blades,
breakers/hammers, augers, and others.
[0019] Returning to the drawings, for the sake of clarity, similar
structures in FIGS. 2 and 4 will be similarly numbered, although
those of FIG. 2 will include a prefix of 1XX, while those of FIG. 4
will include a prefix of 2XX. The panel 108, 208 is slidably
connected to the vehicle body 101, 201 using at least two linear
bearings 120, 121, 220 that include a channel 124, 224 adapted to
receive at least one longitudinal member 122, 222. In use, the
longitudinal member 122, 222 slides within the channels 124, 224 of
the linear bearings 120, 121, 220 to allow the panel 108, 208 to
slide outward from the vehicle body 101, 201.
[0020] FIGS. 2 and 4 depict two of various possible embodiments of
the stricture. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the longitudinal member
122 is coupled to the movable panel 108, while the linear bearings
120, 121 are coupled to the vehicle body 101 (see also FIG. 3).
Conversely, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the longitudinal member
222 is coupled to the vehicle body 201, while the linear bearings
220 are coupled to the movable panel 208. In both cases, at least
one set of linear bearings 120, 121, 220 and a mating longitudinal
member 122, 222 are disposed along either side of the opening 107
such that the sliding of the longitudinal members 122, 222 within
the linear bearings 120, 121, 220 allows the panel 108, 208 to
slide between substantially closed and open positions 109, 110
relative to the opening 107 in the vehicle body 101, 201. The term
"side" as used herein refers to the peripheral sides of the opening
107. Similarly, when referring to opposite "sides" of the panel
108, 208, the term refers to the generally peripheral sides, rather
than, for instance, the outside and the inside.
[0021] The longitudinal member 122, 222 includes an elongated bar
123, 223 which may have any appropriate cross-section, so long as
the channels 124, 224 of the bearings 120, 121, 220 include
complementary structures that permit a smooth sliding of the bar
123, 223 within the linear bearings 120, 121, 220. In the
illustrated embodiments, the bar 123, 223 has a substantially
circular structure. The bar 123, 223 may have an alternate
cross-section, however, such as, for example, an oval, triangular,
rectangular, pentagonal, etc., shape, so long as the channels 124,
224 of the bearings 120, 121, 220 are correspondingly shaped.
[0022] To connect the elongated bar 123, 223 to either the panel
108 (as in FIG. 2) or the vehicle body 201 (as in FIG. 4), at least
one support 126, 226 is provided. The longitudinal member 122, 222
may include any appropriate support 126, 226 structure, so long as
the support 126, 226 structure does not interfere with the smooth
sliding of the bar 123, 223 within the channels 124, 224 of the
linear bearings 120, 121, 220. The support 126, 226 may include two
individual support elements, include more than two individual
support elements, or a single, elongated support element.
[0023] The support 126, 226 in the illustrated embodiments includes
a base portion 127, 227 and an upright portion 128, 228, although
alternate designs are possible. In FIGS. 2 and 4, the support 126,
226 is coupled to the elongated bar 123, 223 by any appropriate
mechanism such as, by way of example only, welding, adhesive,
interference fit, etc. Alternately, the elongated bar 123, 223 and
the support(s) 126, 226 may be unitarily formed by casting,
welding, molding, extruding, or the like. In still other
embodiments, the longitudinal member 122, 222 or the support(s)
126, 226 may be unitarily formed with the vehicle panel 108 or
vehicle body 201.
[0024] The support 126, 226 may include all alternate design. For
example, where supports are provided at either end of the elongated
bar 123, 223 as shown in FIG. 3, the supports may merely be blocks
having a recess or bore therethrough for receiving the ends of the
elongated bar 123, 223. In such an arrangement, the channel 124,
224 of the linear bearings 120, 121, 220 may completely encircle
the circumference of the elongated bar 123, 223 as the longitudinal
member 122, 222 and bearings 120, 121, 220 slide relative to one
another.
[0025] The support 126, 226 may be coupled to the vehicle body 201
or panel 108 by any appropriate means, such as, for example, nuts
and bolts, welding, rivets, adhesive, or alternate arrangement.
Moreover, the support 126, 226 may be coupled directly to the
vehicle body or panel 108, as shown in FIG. 2, or it may be coupled
to a bracket 232, which is further secured to the vehicle body 201
or panel by any appropriate means, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0026] The longitudinal member 122, 222 or its individual
components may be fabricated from one or more of any appropriate
materials. By way of example only, the longitudinal member 122, 222
or its individual components may be formed of steel, or polymeric
material, reinforced or otherwise, etc.
[0027] Turning now to the linear beatings 120, 121, 220, the
respective channels 124, 224 substantially enclose a sufficient
portion of the circumference of the elongated bar 123, 223 to
retain the longitudinal member 122, 222 in sliding communication
with the linear bearings 120, 121, 220 regardless of the
orientation of the vehicle body 101, 201 and panel 108, 208. To
allow for the support 126, 226 connection(s) to the elongated bar
123, 223 to the panel 108 or vehicle body 201 along the length of
the bar 123, 223, the linear bearings 120, 121, 220 may include an
opening 130, 230 from an external surface to the channels 124, 224
of the linear bearings 120, 121, 220, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
Alternately, where the elongated bar 123, 223 is connected to the
vehicle 100 only at its distal ends, as may be the case, for
example, in FIG. 3, the linear bearings 120, 121, 220 need not
include such an opening 130, 230.
[0028] As with the longitudinal member 122, 222, the linear
bearings may be mounted directly to the vehicle body or the panel
208, as depicted in FIG. 4, or to a bracket 131, which is further
mounted to the vehicle body 101 or panel, as shown in FIG. 2. The
linear bearings 120, 121, 220 may be mounted to the vehicle body
101, panel 208, or the bracket 131, and the bracket 131 mounted to
the vehicle body 101 or panel 208 by any appropriate method, such
as, by way of example only, nuts and bolts, welding, adhesive,
etc.
[0029] It will be appreciated, that a practical application of the
arrangement may provide either of these arrangements of FIGS. 2 and
4, a combination of the two, or another arrangement in keeping with
this disclosure. For example, the arrangement of FIG. 2 may be
provided on opposite sides of the panel 108. That is, sets of at
least two linear bearings 120, 121 may be disposed along
respective, opposite sides of the vehicle body 101, while
longitudinal members 122 may be coupled to the panel 108 along
corresponding sides of the opening 107. In an alternate
arrangement, the linear bearings 220 may be disposed on the panel
208 along the opposite sides of the opening 107, while longitudinal
members 222 are disposed along the vehicle body 201 along opposite
sides of opening 107. In yet another embodiment, the arrangement of
FIG. 2 may be utilized along one side of the opening 107, while the
arrangement of FIG. 4 is utilized along the other side of the
opening 107. In another embodiment four sets of linear bearings and
at least two a longitudinal members may be provided, a pair of sets
being disposed along opposite sides of the opening 107.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0030] Some embodiments of the disclosed sliding panel arrangement
may be useful in a variety of machines, and in motor vehicles, in
particular, to provide more efficient operation by enhancing the
fit of a movable panel to the vehicle body. In this way, the
arrangement may reduce the flow of warm air out of all engine
compartment by reducing pathways for air to enter or exit the
engine compartment when the machine hood is in the closed
position.
[0031] Further, some embodiments of the sliding panel arrangement
may provide space efficient packaging of the components used to
move a vehicle panel. Some embodiments may allow for the overall
size of the engine compartment to be reduced because the sliding
panel arrangement may minimize the use of valuable engine
compartment space. Thus, the arrangement may be particularly useful
in vehicles where it is desirable to reduce or minimize the overall
size of the engine compartment.
[0032] In some embodiments, this reduced engine compartment size
may allow for reduced size of the vehicle body, and may minimize
blind spots and viewing obstructions for the operator, enhancing
the operator's view of the areas surrounding the machine, which may
also increase the operator's ability to operate the vehicle safely.
As a result of the decreased engine compartment size, some
embodiments of the sliding panel arrangement may also be
particularly useful in machines where an operator's view of the
machine itself and the areas surrounding the machine are
particularly important, such as asphalt or soil compaction
vehicles.
[0033] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description
provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However,
it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may
differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the
disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the
particular example being discussed at that point and are not
intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure
more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with
respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of
preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the
scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
[0034] Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to
serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated
herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context.
[0035] Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended
hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of
the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is
encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or
otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
* * * * *